Residents

Milwaukee County is home to over 950,000 people living in one of 19 communities, which range in size from the City of Milwaukee, with 595,000 residents, to the Village of River Hills, with roughly 1,600 residents.

Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services Update in Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services is committed to the safety and needs of the individuals that we serve. We are taking the current situation with the Coronavirus very seriously and working closely with public officials and community partners to ensure access to services. Look for any changes and updates to services on the divisions' landing pages. You can also call 2-1-1 for information. IMPACT 2-1-1 provides a coordinated point for those in need.

Energy Assistance Program

It's as Easy as 1-2-3!

The Energy Assistance Program provides qualified Milwaukee County residents with a one-time, annual payment toward heating and electric bills. The funding pays a portion of energy costs determined by household size, income and energy costs. The benefit is usually paid directly to the energy supplier.

1. Check out the rules!

If you have a utility bill and are within our income guidelines, you probably qualify!

2. Apply!

We care about the safety and health of all our customers. Due to the public health emergency surrounding the Coronavirus, we are only accepting phone applications at this time. You can schedule an appointment online by clicking on the link above or by calling (414) 270-4-MKE. Someone will contact you at the time of your appointment.

3. Qualify!

Complete the application with one of our Energy Specialists and your benefit will go directly to your utility account! Scroll down for a list of things you may need to bring with you to your appointment.

Hours of Operation - Extended Hours May 1 - 31

REGULAR

Monday:

8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Tuesday:

8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Wednesday:

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Thursday:

8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Friday:

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday:

8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Sunday:

CLOSED

For heat emergency on holidays, evenings or weekends, dial 2-1-1

This program is administered by the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration.

Am I Eligible?

The amount of assistance depends on income and energy costs.

In response to COVID19, the State of Wisconsin Division of Administration has approved new income guidelines for Energy Assistance benefits. Instead of customers being tested by 3 months of income, this is being changed to 1 month of income effective March 30, 2020. See income guidelines below.

You May Qualify for More Help

Qualifying for Energy Assistance gives you access to other benefits:

Crisis Benefits

If you have no heat, have received a disconnection notice, or are nearly out of stored fuel and cannot afford a refill, you may be eligible for crisis help. Crisis help is based on the need, the resources of your household, your payment history and availability of funds. Note: Crisis benefits are not eligible for FAIR hearings.

Take a Moment to Tell Us How Well We Served You

Our survey only takes a couple minutes, and will help us serve everyone in need of help with their energy bills a little better.

Assistance With High Utility Balances

You may be eligible for assistance with a high utility balance if you have received a disconnection notice or have had your fuel or electric service disconnected.

Eligibility is based on how many times you have received crisis assistance, how many payments you have made to your utility company and how much you have paid to the utility company.

Heating System Repair or Replacement

If you're a qualified Energy Assistance client, and your furnace, boiler or other heating system quits during our heating season (October 1 through May 15), dial 211 at any time, 24-hours-per-day, 7-days-per-week, and we will help you repair, or even replace when necessary, your non-operating heating system.

Homeowners who qualify for WHEAP benefits can qualify for furnace repair. Renters can qualify. Your landlord must also be eligible for WHEAP.

Fuel Oil or Other Bulk Fuel

Bulk fuels like propane and fuel oil often require a minimum order for the fuel company to deliver and the need never arises at a convenient time. Crisis Assistance may be available to help you meet the minimum order cost.

Weatherization Program

One of the best ways to make sure your energy bills stay where you can afford them is to make sure your home uses energy efficiently. Your local weatherization agency can help you insulate your home and water heater, install energy-efficient lighting, reduce air leakage and replace old and inefficient appliances and heating systems. The Weatherization Program targets homes with excessive energy use and homes with elderly or disabled residents, or young children (under six years old).

We can insulate attics and walls, install energy efficient lighting and thermostats, seal up air leaks and provide money-saving tips on maintenance and conservation.

Thank You to Our Weatherization Partners

Warming Room Updates

Milwaukee Continuum of Care partners Capuchin Community Services (St. Benedict the Moor) will provide overnight shelter for up to 80 single adults and Repairers of the Breach will provide overnight shelter for up to 60 single adults, both opening on nights with temperatures forecasted to be 20 degrees or below.

St. Benedict the Moor’s warming room, 924 W. State Street, will be open to provide single adults with overnight shelter from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. St. Benedict the Moor’s warming room will be accessible through 2-1-1 referral and walk in. Repairers of the Breach’s warming room, 1335 W. Vliet Street, will admit those in need of shelter on a walk-in basis from 7 to 10 p.m. and will be open as an overnight shelter until 7 a.m. Milwaukee Rescue Mission Safe Harbor emergency shelter, 1820 W. Wells St., will expand their capacity to add an additional 50 overnight shelter beds for single adult men beginning next week.

Continuum of Care emergency shelters Guest House of Milwaukee and Salvation Army of Milwaukee have also recently expanded their overnight shelter capacity to keep more people who are unsheltered safe and out of the cold weather. Additional Milwaukee warming room location information will be announced at a later date.

Those seeking safety from the cold during the daytimein Milwaukee County are encouraged to go to:

Repairers of the Breach (1335 W. Vliet St.,) open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All those seeking shelter, energy assistance or other supportive services in Milwaukee County should contact 2-1-1 for assistance and referrals to community resources through any of the following means:

The Milwaukee County DHHS Energy Assistance Program, along with the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP), encourages families who are having trouble with their energy bills to apply, so upcoming bills with severe winter weather outside don’t take too big a bite out of the monthly budget...

Now that temperatures have cooled into the 30s everywhere, you can apply for energy assistance. To apply visit the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) website at homeenergyplus.wi.gov or call (866) 432-8947...